Involvement of nuclear factor-κB in the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators by pinosylvin

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a critical transcription factor for maximal expression of many of the cytokines that are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. In this study, we found that pinosylvin, a natural stilbenoid that is a component of the pine leaf (Pinus densiflora), significantly inhibited LPS-induced NF-κb activation in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, pinosylvin was found to inhibit the LPS-induced phosphorylation and degradation of IκB κ in THP-1 cells. Therefore, we have attempted to determine whether pinosylvin can inhibit the expression of cytokines possessing NF-κB binding sites in their promoter regions. In a consistent result, pinosylvin inhibited LPS-induced production of TNF α and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Taken together, these results show that pinosylvin suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory mediators through the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.